Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has seen a sharp decline in his personal wealth, dropping by £6.47 billion over the past year, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List. His fortune has fallen from £23.52 billion to £17.05 billion — a loss of more than 27% — placing him seventh on the list of the UK’s 350 richest individuals, down from fourth.
The 72-year-old British billionaire, through his Ineos Group, purchased a 27.7% stake in Manchester United in February 2024 in a deal valued at around £1.25 billion ($1.6 billion). The agreement gave Ineos control over football operations at the club.
Ratcliffe’s early tenure at Manchester United has drawn public scrutiny. Since taking over, the club has increased ticket prices and carried out two rounds of staff redundancies — measures aimed at improving financial stability. These cost-cutting decisions have sparked backlash from fans and critics alike.
In a BBC interview in March, Ratcliffe defended the unpopular steps, stating the club would have “run out of cash by the end of this year” without intervention. Despite the criticism, he reaffirmed his commitment to long-term investment in the club.
That same month, Manchester United announced ambitious plans to build a new £2 billion stadium with a capacity of 100,000 seats near Old Trafford, aiming to create an “iconic” landmark for the club and its supporters.
Ratcliffe also insisted that the financial pressures facing Ineos, the multinational chemicals company he founded, would not affect his plans or investment in Manchester United.
